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Touch the Antiquity, visit Plovdiv city

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Touch the Antiquity, visit Plovdiv city

Anita Valentinova, 05.09.2009

Plovdiv is the second largest city in Bulgaria, following the eternal Sofia, Bulgaria’s capital city. The ancient Plovdiv spreads over an area of about 53 square km in the Upper Thracian Plain, along the two banks of Maritza River. Its prime location on the ancient crossroads and favourable climate have boosted strong cultural and political influences from East and West civilizations, and yet maintained its unique cultural identity and rich historical inheritance. Thus, the city of Plovdiv was one of the most thriving cities during almost all historical eras. Important international crossroads pass through Plovdiv , which since time immemorial connected the East with Europe, the Baltic with the Mediterranean, Black Sea with Adriatic Sea. The six rock hills give to this antique city a beauty which is second to none. Plovdiv is a town built upon layers of towns and a culture developed upon layers of cultures as it is older than even the most oldest towns-Rome, Constantinopole, Athens. Remains of ancient, medieval, revival and modern culture have blended in a unique way to give the city irresistible, eternal beauty and great majesty. All of them complement and enrich each other to make Plovdiv a sheer synonym of Bulgarian history and at the same time a genuine city of world importance.

Plovdiv is a city which has been established in the high Antiquity. You may not know, but the Eternal City, as Rome is traditionally called, is much younger. Athens, Carthage and Constantinople came into being later. Plovdiv is all in one: a Thracian and classical Greek megapolis, the pride of Philip of Macedonia, the capital of Thracians under the Roman Empire, a centre of Byzantine culture, a stronghold of the Bulgarians, a dream of the crusaders - a magnificent, wealth and flourishing city. The Roman emperors Trayanus and Marcus Aurellius built impressive fortresses around the town. They intoduced many improvements, as well as coin minting. At those times Plovdiv was known as Ulpia Thrimonzium, the most flourishing metropolis of the Thracian province. The ancient names of Plovdiv throughout its 6000 to 8000 years of existence are Kendros, Eumolpia, Philippopolis, Pulpudeva, Thrimonzium, Pulden, Populdin, Ploudin, Filibe. The name Plovdiv has appeared for the first time in 15 century documents and has remained till the present day. In the Antiquity Plovdiv was situated on seven hills: Taxim, Nebet, Jambaz, Sahat, Jendem and Bunarjik. The seventh hill, Markovo Tepe, has been completely buried under the pavement of modern Plovdiv. Plovdiv is a picturesque city, boasting amazing nature with many parks and lush gardens, interesting museums and many archaeological monuments.

One of the most remarkable must sees of the town is the Ancient Theatre (a well-preserved Roman theatre) which is located there and is still used for open-air performances. The Ancient Theatre Plovdiv is the most impressive building of Roman times that has been preserved till nowadays. The Roman theatre is probably the best known monument from the Antiquity in Bulgaria. It was built in the beginning of the 2nd century during the reign of the Roman Emperor Trayan. It is divided into two parts with 14 rows each divided with a horizontal lane. The magnificent amphitheatre dates back to the Roman times. It has been restored and nowadays classical drama, operas, and concerts are presented on stage in the open air. The magnificent Roman Stadium in Plovdiv was built over the Sahat tepe and Taxim tepe (hills). The stadium has the shape of horseshoe and is 180 meters long and there are 30 000 seats. Some archaeologists believe that games from the Septimus Severus time (193 – 211) were led there. The greatest competitions were the Alexandrian games, which were just like the popular Greek Olympic games.

The Old part of Plovdiv, also called the Old Town because of its houses from the National Revival period (18-19th century), is an imposing open-air museum, a stately architectural landmark, situated on the three hills of the ancient Trimontium. The Renaissance town of Old Plovdiv was built during the 19th century. It has been preserved and maintained as a unique architectural ensemble on the three hills and is of great interest for the majority of Plovdiv’s visitors. The houses reveal a unique world, the remarkable urban culture of Bulgarian builders, as well as their flair for harmony and their creativeness. The imposing architecture with its noble, stylish simplicity could be called rightfully the Baroque of Plovdiv. The Bulgarian people have been proud of the Old Plovdiv being renovated and preserved as a large open museum in order to remain for the future generations. The Old part of Plovdiv has been declared an architectural museum reserve with over 150 monuments of culture - buildings from the National Revival period. The magnificent houses are turned into museums, galleries, workshops, restaurants and there are also workshops, studios of painters and wood-carvers.